Saleh Arouri, who commands Hamas terror cells in Judea and Samaria, threatened war if Israel began launching targeted assassinations of Hamas leaders in Gaza or Lebanon.
By Pesach Benson, TPS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed threats of war from a senior Hamas terror commander in remarks at the beginning of Sunday’s weekly Cabinet meeting.
Saleh Arouri, who commands Hamas terror cells in Judea and Samaria, threatened war if Israel began launching targeted assassinations of Hamas leaders in Gaza or Lebanon.
“The leaders of the occupation government, with their extremist policies, will cause an all-out war in the region,” the Lebanon-based Arouri told the pro-Hezbollah newspaper Al-Mayadeen in an interview on Friday. “Some in the cabinet are considering actions such as taking control of Al-Aqsa Mosque and dividing it, along with assassinations, knowing that this would lead to a regional war. If we reach the point of an all-out confrontation, Israel will face an unprecedented defeat in its history, and we are confident of that.”
In response, Netanyahu said, “I also heard the arrogant words of senior Hamas official Arouri, from his hiding place in Lebanon. He knows very well why he and his friends are in hiding places. Hamas and other branches of Iran understand very well that we will fight with all means against their attempts to create terrorism against us – in Judea and Samaria, in Gaza and anywhere else.”
The Prime Minister added, “Whoever tries to harm us, whoever finances, whoever organizes, whoever sends terror against Israel – will pay the full price.”
The Security Cabinet’s decision last Tuesday came amid mounting Palestinian terror attacks. So far in 2023, Palestinian terrorists have killed 34 people (33 Israelis and an Italian tourist) in Israel and committed almost 200 shooting attacks in Judea and Samaria.
Sources within the Gaza Strip told the Tazpit Press Service that Arouri “is currently considered an extremely important asset for the Iranians and therefore it should be estimated that his elimination abroad will lead to the ignition of an all-out campaign, certainly on the northern front.”